During a rich discussion at the meeting, members learned what the next 20 months have in store and explored the challenges to moving their campuses toward comprehensive internationalization.

One particular issue faced by many members of the cohort was how to align different global efforts or programs around the campus into a central strategy. For instance, at one large institution individual colleges had their own study abroad programs, but there was no university-wide coordination. Over the course of the program, ACE staff will assist the institutions in tackling these kinds of issues and gaining campus-wide support for internationalization strategic plans.

The members of the 11th cohort are:

Clemson University (SC)

California State University—Dominguez Hills

Emerson College (MA)

Leeward, Windward and Hawaii Community Colleges (HI)

Lewis University (IL)

Orange Coast College (CA)

Sacred Heart University (CT)

The State University of New York Geneseo

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Western Washington University

“We have a large, wonderful group of institutions in the Laboratory this year, including community colleges, research universities and private colleges,” said Barbara Hill, senior associate in ACE’s Center for Internationalization and Global Engagement, and project leader. “This program will give members the opportunity to participate in a particularly robust exchange of ideas over the coming months. Their campuses and students will benefit enormously as they move toward more global learning environments."

The activities over the course of the cohort include: forming leadership teams to work on strategic planning and student outcomes, attending learning community meetings in Washington, undergoing site visits and peer reviews, and participating in monthly phone calls with the Laboratory director.

Since 2002, 76 institutions have participated in the Internationalization Laboratory.

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